Food for Rabbits - what you should get and where to get it
Rabbits need free choice of good quality hay, limited amounts of pelleted feed and fresh greens daily. Visit Carrot Cafe for a comprehensive understanding of rabbit nutritional needs.
Pelleted Feed
It's best to keep your bunny on a plain rabbit pellet that is not any higher than 14% protein. Also watch the calcium content of the food and stick to those that are lower rather than higher. These foods can be purchased in bulk or in bags at both Bosley's and Tisol pet supply stores. (VRRA asks that you support pet supply stores that do NOT sell rabbits.) For older rabbits or rabbits with urinary tract, or digestive track upsets pellets made from Timothy hay could be a life saver. Read about pellets made from timothy hay at the Oxbow Hay web site . This feed can be purchased in Vancouver from several veterinarians: West Boulevard Vet Clinic in Kerrisdale, King George Vet Clinic in Surrey, Arbutus West Vet Clinic in Kits and the Eagle Ridge Vet Clinic in Coquitlam. You can also buy Oxbow Hay products from the VRRA store: Urban Rabbit Supply, 604 731-6026. When you buy from Urban Rabbit Supply all proceeds go towards rabbit rescue.
Hay
Your rabbit should have as much hay as he or she wants. Avoid alfalfa hay except for baby rabbits. Buy timothy hay or a good quality grass hay. Timothy and orchard grass mixes are excellent. You can buy hay in small, expensive bags in pet stores or you can pick up hay by the bale in feed stores. Hay bales come in different sizes. Several people may want to share the larger sizes. Another good source for hay is a horse stable. Many horsemen feed timothy hay or mixes to their horses and will not object to parting with small amounts for nominal prices. You can also order small bales of hay over the internet.
- Country Feeds, Aldergrove
- First Choice Feeds, Surrey
- Roddick Feed & Farm Supply, Ladner
- Vanderveen Hay Sales, Surrey
- Urban Rabbit Supply
Fresh Greens
Rabbits should have fresh greens everyday. Feed an assortment so that a full range of nutrients is covered. If you bunny has not had a certain vegetable before give only a small amount and watch that her digestive system is not upset. Always rinse them and of course, organic are best.
Vegetables:
Alfalfa sprouts
Basil
Beet greens (tops) *
Bok choy
Broccoli (mostly leaves/stems) *
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage leaves (outer)
Carrot *
Carrot tops *
Celery (leaves – stems in small pieces)
Cilantro
Clover
Clover sprouts
Collard greens*
Dandelion greens and flowers (no pesticides or herbicides) *
Endive *
Escarole
Fennel (anise)
Green peppers
Kale (!) *
Mint
Mustard greens *
Parsley *
Pea pods (the flat, edible kind) *
Peppermint leaves
Raddichio
Radish tops
Radish sprouts
Raspberry leaves
Romaine lettuce (no iceberg )*
Spinach (!) *
Swiss chard
Watercress *
(*) high in Calcium
(!) Use sparingly. High in oxalates or goitrogens and may be toxic in
accumulated quantities over a period of time
Treats
We recommend nutritious treats only. Never give your rabbit yogurt drops even though the packet claims they are fine treats for rabbits. Your bunny may like them but they mainly icing sugar and are simply not necessary when he will be just as crazy for a healthy piece of apple or a small slice of banana. Avoid grains, nuts, corn, crackers, breads and the like. Rabbits do not handle starch and sugar well and why take the chance of upsetting her delicate digestive system. The fruits below make fine treats in small quantities. Proceed cautiously if something is new to your rabbit. Here is an excellent article that explains a rabbit's digestive system.
Apple (no seeds)
Blueberries
Cactus fruit
Melon
Mango
Orange (no peals)
Papaya
Peach
Pear (no seeds)
Pineapple
Plums
Persimmon
Raspberries
Strawberries
Grapes (high in sugar)
Tomato
Banana (occasionally)
Dried fruits (small piece)
Raisins (Watch out for sugar!)
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